90 Effect of Milking Procedures on Milk Somatic
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90 EFFECT OF MILKING PROCEDURES ON MILK SOMATIC CELL COUNT H. Kiiman1, E. Pärna1, A. Leola1, T. Kaart1 1 Estonian University of Life Sciences ABSTRACT. Data were collected from five dairy farms, where cows were milked with pipeline milking system. These agricultural enterprises were interested in monitoring and analysis of milkers' working time consumption, to make sure they follow all the machine milking regulations. On three farms the cows were milked using De Laval and on two farms with Rezekne pipeline milking equipment. The De Laval milking system was supplied with automatic cluster remover (ACR). This type of milking equipment enables the milkers to more properly milk the cows. On all dairy farms the cows were milked twice daily. Monitoring of the work activities of 24 machine milking operators, who milked the cows selected for our trials, was carried out immediately after control-milking. The duration of each element of the working process was recorded. Data on milk, fat and protein yields, and somatic cell count were collected. The mean duration of pre-milking udder preparation was 30 sec/cow, which did not meet physiological demands of cows during machine milking. Some cows were prepared only for 11 seconds, whereas the udder preparation comprised merely inadequate cleaning of teats, and foremilk was not stripped out. The maximum duration of over-milking was 103 seconds. A significant positive correlation (r=0.356***) was observed between the unit attachment to the cow and machine stripping. The milking operators, who were late in unit attachment, spent considerably more time on machine stripping. All the basic milking procedures had an impact on milk somatic cell count. A significant correlation was observed between over-milking time and somatic cell count as well as between pre- milking udder preparation and milk SCC (P<0.001). Keywords: somatic cell count (SCC), procedures in machine milking. Introduction The success of the modern dairy farm depends on the profitable production of high quality milk. Important factors for the prevention of high milk somatic cell count (SCC) are: post-milking teat disinfection, dry cow therapy, good milking management, treatment of clinical mastitis with antibiotics, and culling of problem cows (Barkema et al., 1998). Researchers (Merril et al., 1987) have determined that a twelve-hour interval between milkings is optimal in the case of twice daily milking. A correct milking routine includes different working operations: teat and udder cleaning, manual pre-stimulation, fore-milking, milking unit attachment to the cow, removal of milking unit, and effective post-milking teat disinfection (teat dipping). The investigations (Calhoun, 1995) have indicated that more than 50% of the working time is spent on milking. Nowadays the milking process is largely mechanised. Improper and careless milking may result in decreased milk let-down, increased incidence of udder diseases and low milk quality, which are ultimately causing considerable economic loss for dairy producers. Somatic cell count, or a parameter derived from this count, is often used to distinguish between infected and uninfected quarters. It has been found that 200,000 cells/ml is the most practical threshold to determine the profitability of dairy farms (Harmon, 1994; Heald et al., 2000; Haile-Mariam et al., 2003; Rogers, 1995). Somatic cells are also present in milk of healthy cows, and the increase in SCC is a normal cellular defence against udder infections (Koivula, 2005). Most countries do not widely record clinical mastitis incidences (Emanuelson et al., 1988; Lund et al., 1999). SCC is objectively recorded on a continuous scale, and it has a higher heritability than mastitis incidence (Kennedy et al., 1982; Pösö, Mäntysaari, 1996; Schepers, 1997; Koivula et al., 2004). The year 1979 was the beginning of somatic cell count registering in Estonia and from 1987 these data are measured and registered monthly in Estonian milk recording scheme (Pentjärv, Uba, 2004). Herds with high somatic cell count must adopt a short-term goal of reducing SCC as quickly as possible so that milk can be legally marketable and dairy cattle breeding sustainable. More and more attention is paid to milk quality. After the accession of Estonia to the European Union, the demands on milk quality were in compliance with the proposed EU legal limit of 400,000 cells/ml. Similar levels are required in New Zealand and Australia, whereas Canada established the requirement of a SCC < 500,000 cells/ml (Sargeant et al., 1998; Norman et al., 2000). Estonia faces several problems with somatic cell count affecting milk quality and udder health. In 2004, 26% of cows were culled due to udder diseases, and mean milk somatic cell count was 361,000–435,000 cells/ml on dairy farms in Estonia (Jõudluskontrolli…, 2005). These circumstances give reasons to investigate the influence of milking procedures on somatic cell count in milk. Effect of milking procedures on milk somatic cell count 91 Material and Methods Data were collected from five dairy farms, where cows were milked with pipeline milking system. These agricultural enterprises were interested in monitoring and analysis of milkers' working time consumption, to make sure they follow all the machine milking regulations. On three farms the cows were milked using De Laval and on two farms with Rezekne pipeline milking equipment. The De Laval milking system was supplied with automatic cluster remover (ACR). This type of milking equipment enables the milkers to more properly milk the cows. On all dairy farms the cows were milked twice daily. Monitoring of the work activities of 24 machine milking operators, who milked the cows selected for our trials, was carried out immediately after control-milking. The duration of each element of the working process was recorded. Data on milk, fat and protein yields, and somatic cell count were collected. The milking routine included the following: 1. Pre-milking udder and teat preparation (cleaning, washing, drying, massaging and stripping for early detection of clinical mastitis). 2. Cluster attachment. 3. Control of the milking unit and the cow's udder during milking. 4. Over-milking. 5. Machine stripping. 6. Shutting off the vacuum and cluster removal from the cow. 7. Washing of the milking unit. 8. Washing hands and cloth towel. 9. Teat dipping in the sanitising solution immediately after milking. Additionally were registered the 'transition', i.e. the time a milking operator proceeded from one work operation to another, and the moments when the operator was involved in other activities. Stoppages and undone work operations were also fixed. MS Excel and SAS program were used for data processing. Results and Discussion Present-day milking machines enable the operators to milk cows fast and so that all four udder quarters are milked out. At the same time the regulations of machine milking procedures must be followed. To ensure complete udder evacuation, it is essential to perform careful pre-milking udder preparation, which will induce the release of oxytocin (Bruckmaier, 2000). Adkinson et al. (1988) investigated milk somatic cell count in 30 Virgina dairy cattle herds and registered the udder preparation for milking. The analysis of the results revealed, that using of disposable paper towels reduces milk somatic cell count, eliminating the possibility of bacteria transmission from infected cows to healthy ones. The similar result was reported by Randy et al. (1990). All studies are consistent in showing that during pre-milking procedures it is necessary to use individual paper towels, especially in these dairy cattle herds where are frequent problems with high somatic cell count in milk. It is essential to attach milking unit to a cow promptly. The longer is the delay in cluster attachment, the shorter will be the milking time with milk ejection (Merrill et al., 1987; Barkema et al., 1998). After the unit attachment delay the milk ejection is slow, the udder is not emptied and the machine stripping is abnormally long-lasting (Etgen et al., 1987). If the cow is milked at the beginning and in the middle of lactation, it is suggested that the milking unit be attached within 50 seconds after beginning udder preparation. At the end of lactation, it is recommendable to attach the milking unit to a cow a little later (Bruckmaier, 2000). Table 1. Duration of the basic milking procedures (sec) Items Mean Standard deviation Minimum Maximum Udder preparation 24.0 6.8 11.0 49.0 Delay in milking unit attachment 5.9 8.9 0 43.0 Machine stripping 22.1 9.7 0 54.0 Over-milking 26.3 24.3 0 103.0 As soon as the milk flow has finished, the milking unit must be removed to prevent over-milking, which is one of the most considerable factors causing mastitis infection. Correct time for machine stripping is when the milk flow is changed incomplete and will start to decrease (Etgen et al., 1987; Randy et al., 1990; Timmermans, 1996). Over-milking may occur immediately after the unit attachment, when the cow's milk let-down reflex is not sufficiently initiated (Calhoun, 1995). The influence of over-milking on milk somatic cell count is also confirmed by Wesen and Schultz (1970). Numerous studies have been carried out to investigate the optimum duration of machine stripping. With regard to this problem, Reneau (1986) recommends that the machine stripping should last no more than 30 92 H. Kiiman, E. Pärna, A. Leola, T. Kaart seconds, whereas Etgen et al. (1987), Barkema et al., (1998) and Calhoun (1995) suggest spending no more than 20 seconds. When the udder is prior adequately prepared for milking, 10–15 seconds of machine stripping per cow is sufficient. Milking operator massages the udder only to control if the milking process has ended properly. If the udder preparation is insufficient, the machine stripping lengthens significantly (Adkinson et al., 1988; Etgen et al., 1987).